Written Answers Nos. 767-789
767. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the clinical governance arrangements that are planned to enable HSE clinical supports be provided to private nursing homes in the context of the development of the six HSE health regions. [33724/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
768. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the common assessment approach to the needs of older people known as InterRAI is fully operational across all six HSE health regions; and if the electronic version piloted with co-funding from an organisation (details supplied) almost a decade ago forms part of this process. [33725/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
769. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason the opt out register is not live in advance of the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 coming into force; and how do people opt out now. [33739/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 was enacted in February 2024. The Act is a composite piece of legislation that includes provisions around donation and transplantation of organs, tissues, and cells, post-mortem practice and procedures, anatomical examination, and public display of bodies after death. Crucially, it embeds in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive areas.
Part 2 of the Act, which commenced on 17 June 2025, provides for the first time, a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplant services in Ireland.
Under the legislation, all adults in Ireland are considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate on the Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register or are in one of the excluded groups. It is important to reassure people that family members will always be consulted before any action is taken. This is commonly referred to as a soft opt-out system of organ donation.
Section 32 provides that the HSE shall, as soon as practicable after commencement, establish and maintain the Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register. Section 32 commenced on 17 June 2025, and the Register went live on the same day.
For those willing to become an organ donor, no action is required.
Those who object to organ donation, for whatever reason, can record their objection on the new Relevant Organ Donation Opt-Out Register maintained by the HSE. This can be done online at hse.ie/organdonation or by contacting HSE Live on 1800 700 700.
The wishes of those on the Register will be respected in full, and their family will not be approached on the issue of organ donation.
770. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive their much-needed hip operation. [33741/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra773. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health to examine the case of a person (details supplied) needing expedited support services. [33753/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 770 and 773 together.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an Inpatient/Day case or Outpatient waiting list.
While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF funded treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on a waiting list. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
771. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health regarding the Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display Act (2024), to outline the guarantees in place that participants will only have their organ and tissue used for transplantation purposes, and not, for example, used as part of any commercially driven research; are there any sanctions are in place in the event that any abuse of the scheme takes place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33747/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination and Public Display) Act 2024 was enacted in February 2024. The Act is a composite piece of legislation that includes provisions around donation and transplantation of organs, tissues, and cells, post-mortem practice and procedures, anatomical examination, and public display of bodies after death. Crucially, it embeds in legislation the idea that consent is the defining principle across all these sensitive areas.
Part 2 of the Act, which commenced on 17 June 2025, provides for the first time a national legislative framework for organ donation and transplant services in Ireland.
The provisions of Part 2 centre around the carrying out of transplantation activities. Transplantation activities refers to any or all of the following:
• the removal of an organ from the body of a living or deceased person for the purposes of transplantation,
• the removal of tissues and cells from the body of a living or deceased person for the purposes of human application,
• the use of any organs or tissues and cells removed from the body of a living or deceased person for the purposes of transplantation or human application.
Consent for organ, tissue or cell donation for the purpose of transplantation or human application is limited to these purposes.
The Act provides for offences related to either carrying out a procedure without consent or failing to keep proper records of consent and management of material.
Offences relating to consent can result in a class A fine and/or up to 6-month’s imprisonment for a summary conviction. If convicted on indictment, it may result in a fine of up to €120,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 years.
Offences relating to management of records can result in a class C fine and/or up to a 6-month’s imprisonment for a first-time offence. Subsequent convictions can receive a class A fine and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months.
772. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been denied support from community occupational therapy services in Crumlin, on the grounds that such assessments are only conducted after a hip replacement has taken place. [33752/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
774. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33771/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
775. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33772/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
776. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33773/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare estate, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
777. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health for an update on her plans to promote uptake of the HPV vaccine, specifically amongst young men and boys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33780/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department.
The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are selected, where possible, in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. The HPV vaccine is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes exposed to HPV infection. The HPV vaccine is currently offered, free of charge, to boys and girls in first year of secondary school and is administered through the School Immunisation Programme. It is critical that the HPV vaccine is administered early and before any likely exposure to HPV.
For the 2024/2025 academic year the HSE encouraged parents to check their child’s school bag for the immunisation consent pack for HPV, Tdap and MenACWY vaccines as part of a social media campaign which also highlighted the importance of each vaccine and shared information about the diseases these vaccines prevent. The HSE will continue to encourage all eligible people to get their vaccines on time and will continue to share facts about the importance of HPV vaccine for both males and females on www.hpv.ie.
My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence in this area.
778. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Health for an update on her plans to extend BowelScreen and BreastCheck screening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33781/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to supporting our population screening programmes, which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
The Programme for Government commits to extending the BowelScreen cancer screening programme and also to extending the ages for the BreastCheck screening programme in line with updated standards from HIQA.
Since April 2025, BowelScreen, the national bowel screening programme, invites men and women aged between 59-70 to take the free at-home screening test. Funding of €1.9 million has been allocated for the expansion of BowelScreen to individuals aged 58 to 70. Those aged 58 will start to receive invitations later this year. This is an important part of a phased approach to expanding the screening age, in line with available capacity and resources, when full expansion is complete, people aged 55-74 will be invited for screening.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular intervals to have a screening mammogram. In Budget 2025, an additional €2.9 million was allocated to the BreastCheck programme to support the recruitment of 22 Whole Time Equivalent posts. This will assist in expanding and future-proofing the programme to meet increased demand.
I am intent on advancing the cancer screening commitments outlined in the Programme for Government, which will be facilitated through established protocols. The National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) is the independent expert group that considers proposed changes to Ireland’s screening programmes. NSAC assesses the evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria, before making recommendations to myself as Minister for Health. The rigorous processes utilised by NSAC are critical to ensure that our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
In this regard, I am pleased to report that NSAC is progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has submitted a request to the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), to consider the evidence for a further expansion of the eligibility for the BreastCheck and BowelScreen programmes.
HIQA is currently focused on a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process to examine a proposed further expansion of the age range eligibility for the BowelScreen programme to those aged 50-54 years. Work on this is at an advanced stage, with a report expected to be submitted to NSAC for consideration later this year.
The evidence review for the expansion of the BreastCheck programme remains a key priority for NSAC, and HIQA is expected to commence work on it shortly. The BreastCheck review will focus on two key elements, the expansion of the age range eligibility and the potential introduction of a standardised breast density measurement.
HTAs facilitate the assessment of relevant evidence and knowledge on the effects and consequences of healthcare technologies to guide decisions regarding the appropriate use of technology and efficient allocation of resources. They involve a multidisciplinary assessment of the clinical, economic, ethical, legal and societal perspectives that may be impacted by the introduction of a new technology. They are time-intensive and rigorous processes.
Finally, I would like to emphasise that population-based screening programmes are for people without symptoms. If anyone becomes aware of symptoms, or if they have concerns or worries, they should contact a medical professional.
779. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the plans to address the legal entitlement of both parents to be on the birth certificate of a child born via surrogacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33785/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra780. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health the plans to progress amending legislation that would give legal entitlement of both parents to be on the birth certificate of a child born via surrogacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33786/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 779 and 780 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 was signed into law by the President in July 2024, having passed all stages in both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The primary purpose of this complex and far-reaching legislation is to regulate fertility clinics providing treatment such as IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and IUI (intrauterine insemination) and ensure that assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices and related areas of research are conducted in a more consistent and standardised way and with the necessary oversight.
The establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA), as provided for in the legislation, is a key aspect required for the effective regulation of this sector.
The AHR Bill as initially published also included provisions in respect of domestic altruistic surrogacy. However, the final AHR Act 2024 also includes substantive new provisions in respect of the regulation of future surrogacy arrangements undertaken by Irish residents in other jurisdictions and the recognition of parentage arising from certain past domestic and international surrogacy arrangements.
While the AHR Act 2024 was progressing through the Houses of Oireachtas, issues were identified which required further consideration and consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. Formal drafting of the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) (Amendment) Bill – which is largely concerned with outstanding issues of parentage and citizenship but also seeks to make other necessary amendments to various sections of the AHR Act 2024 itself, including in respect of the provisions related to past surrogacy arrangements – is at an advanced stage, led by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, in conjunction with officials from my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.
The Deputy would be aware that the issuance of a birth certificate from the Register of Births is the responsibility of the General Register Office (GRO), which operates under the auspices of the Department of Social Protection.
The 2024 AHR Act provides for the amendment of the Civil Registration Act 2004 whereby, once a Parental Order is granted by the Courts in respect of a child born as a result of AHR treatment provided pursuant to a surrogacy agreement, the GRO is enabled to register the birth of such a child if he or she is born in the State on a new register, the Register of Parental Orders for Surrogacy, the establishment of which is also provided for in the 2024 AHR Act. Thereafter, the parents or guardians of the child concerned, or the child if he or she has reached the age of 16, may apply to be provided with a certified copy of an entry in this Register, and the production of such a certified copy will satisfy any requirement of law for the production of a certificate of birth.
Full commencement of the 2024 AHR Act will require a fully established and operational AHRRA being in place and the enactment of necessary amendments and additional provisions contained in the AHR Amendment Bill.
The Deputy will appreciate that at this point I cannot give a definitive timeline for the commencement of the AHR legislation in its totality but all efforts are continuing to advance this much-needed legislation, set up the regulatory authority, and provide a framework for the parentage of children born as a result of surrogacy to be fully recognised as soon as practicable.
781. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if she will provide an update on the new emergency department in Beaumont Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33789/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe process for the Beaumont ED proposal is being managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department of Health or Government for consent.
This is in line with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform’s updated Infrastructure Guidelines. As such, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
782. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to give a detailed response to a serious matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33794/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra792. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to urgently address serious concerns (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33838/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 782 and 792 together.
As the case referred to by the Deputy is before the High Court and is subject to in-camera proceedings the Minister for Health is limited in the information that she can provide. The Department has, however, been advised that the process is nearing completion.
In September 2022, following the cessation of practice of a specialist orthodontist in Galway, the then Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, met patient representatives and local representatives to listen to their specific concerns and consider possible options.
The usual course of events would be that orthodontic practices are wound down in an orderly fashion when necessary and for patients to continue to receive care in other practices as arranged by the dentist providing their care. In the case referred to by the Deputy, due to the circumstances of the cessation of practice of the specialist orthodontist this was not possible.
The Dentists Act 1985 establishes the Dental Council as the regulator of the dental profession in Ireland. Officials in the Department of Health have worked with the Dental Council and relevant stakeholders to ensure that everything possible was done to resolve the concerns of patients affected.
To support patients to receive continuity of care, the Dental Council wrote to orthodontists located nearest to the practice to seek their co-operation to provide care to former patients of this practice. The Orthodontic Society of Ireland (OSI) also coordinated with its members to seek ways to resolve this situation to enable ongoing care to be restored as soon as possible.
While the Minister has every sympathy for the patients affected by this situation, consumer law is the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), and so issues relating to the refunding of fees are not within the remit of the Department of Health.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is the statutory body responsible for promoting compliance with, and enforcing, competition and consumer protection law in Ireland and are best placed to advise on any concerns regarding refunding of professional fees.
783. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health for a full list of all documents, reports, strategies, and resources that have been “unpublished” by her Department over the past ten years (details supplied), including all such materials that have been “unpublished” by divisions, sections and units of her Department that became part of the Minister’s Department following a transfer of functions; and who “unpublished” the materials under a different Minister or Department. [33809/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe gov.ie website, launched in 2018, is the main source of information on government and public services. It aims to improve user experience by organising and simplifying information. Trusted for Government communications, it had about 75 million page views in 2024 and was a crucial resource during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gov.ie website underwent a major upgrade in April 2025, migrating 183,707 pages, 9,737 images, and 133,925 documents. Inevitably, some broken links occurred and will take time to fix.
An audit conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform post-migration revealed less than 1% of all pages were affected by broken links. Any broken links were replaced with placeholder text, “Item has been unpublished or removed”, rather than returning an error. The Department of Health was alerted to the broken links on their pages, and has been rectifying errors as they’re notified. Officials will continue to ensure that any errors are promptly corrected as they are alerted to them.
My Department is dedicated to the open publication of government information. There is no coordinated effort to suppress information, nor has there been any systematic removal of links or documents. The issue at hand is technical in nature and is currently being addressed. Until this issue is fully resolved, if the Deputy or, indeed any member of the public needs access to a specific document affected by this issue, they are encouraged to contact my Department.
784. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an occupational therapy appointment as early diagnosis and therapy is essential to his quality of life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33817/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
785. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person will receive an appointment for hearing aids and hearing physiotherapy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33818/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
786. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Health her plans to increase the availability of mental health services in Ballyfermot, particularly for elderly people. [33826/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
787. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to change the timely access to the drug givinostat required to help treatment for persons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33827/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra832. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if she will accelerate the approval and funding of the new drug givinostat to treat the one-hundred boys currently living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34122/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 787 and 832 together.
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and devices; therefore, I have asked the HSE for an update in this matter.
The HSE has advised that there is a National Application, Assessment & Decision Process for new medicines which is underpinned by Primary Legislation (Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013) put in place by the Oireachtas. The HSE must comply with the relevant legislation when considering investment decisions around new medicines.
The HSE must robustly assess applications for pricing and reimbursement to make sure that it can stretch available resources as far as possible and to deliver the best value in relation to each medicine and ultimately more medicines to Irish citizens and patients.
There are formal processes which govern applications for the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, and new uses of existing medicines, to be funded and / or reimbursed.
Pharmaceutical companies are required to submit formal applications to the HSE if they wish for their medicines to be added to the list of reimbursable items / funded via hospitals. The decision of pharmaceutical companies to market licensed medicines i.e. whether or not to submit a formal application, is outside the control of the HSE.
In terms of the specific details of an application for pricing and reimbursement of Givinostat (Duvyzat®):
On 25th April 2025, the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a conditional marketing authorisation for Givinostat (Duvyzat®) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in ambulant patients, aged 6 years and older, and with concomitant corticosteroid treatment. On the 6th June 2025 the European Commission granted EU conditional marketing authorisation for Givinostat (Duvyzat®) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
A pricing and reimbursement application has not yet been received by the HSE for Givinostat (Duvyzat®).
As outlined above, the national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a pricing and reimbursement application submission to the HSE.
788. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 539 of 12 June 2025, the reason her Department continues to deflect responsibility for bilingual food and drink labelling to the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, despite that Department’s lack of a legislative role in the matter; if she will take ownership of this issue, given her Department’s control over food labelling law in Ireland; the way in which excluding the Irish language from the remit of the Inter-Departmental Group on the FIC Regulation complies with the State’s constitutional and legal obligations to promote Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33828/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood labelling in the EU is governed by Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (FIC), for which my Department has responsibility.
Article 15, of the FIC Regulation, Language requirements, states that “mandatory food information shall appear in a language easily understood by the consumers of the Member States where a food is marketed.” and “the Member States in which a food is marketed may stipulate that the particulars shall be given in one or more languages from among the official languages of the Union”
In Ireland, the language requirements of the FIC Regulation are given effect in S.I. No. 556/2014 – European Union (Provision of Food Information to Consumers) Regulations 2014 which provides for bilingual labelling. This S.I. provides food business operators (FBOs) the flexibility to offer mandatory food information in either (a) the English language, or (b) the Irish language and the English language. This flexibility was provided to ensure that the legislation was not creating a barrier to intra-EU trade, for example, if FBOs have to produce separate labels for different markets.
In 2020, the EU Commission had indicated its intention to revise the FIC Regulation in respect of certain specific criteria. As my Department has responsibility for the FIC Regulation, it established an Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) in 2022 to examine the Commission’s proposed revision package and establish an Irish position. The members of the IDG were nominated by the relevant Departments and Agencies that had an involvement with the specific criteria in the revision package. The Terms of Reference (TORs) for the IDG state its role is to “identify and agree Ireland’s preferred policy options for each of the five elements of the FIC Regulation revision”. Therefore, it is not within the remit of this IDG to examine issues outside these TORs.
The Commission had committed to releasing a legislative proposal, including an impact assessment in late 2022 but these are still to be progressed. When the legislative proposal and impact assessment are progressed by the Commission, my Department will reconvene the IDG so that it can complete its deliberations.
As Minister with responsibility for the FIC Regulation, I currently have no plans to convene a Group to examine the current national flexibility which provides for mandatory food information in either (a) the English language, or (b) the Irish language and the English language. Developing policy options and potential legislative changes to encourage greater use of bilingual packaging by businesses in Ireland as a way to promote and increase the visibility of the Irish language is a matter for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
789. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health to examine the case to review the working relationship with an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33833/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
